Too many hats in the leadership ring

Too many hats in the leadership ring

Sunday 25 February 2007 19.13 EST
First published on Sunday 25 February 2007 19.13 EST

Michael Meacher is a decent and honest MP but his decision to vote for the Iraq war showed a lack of the judgment needed to be a good leader (Comment, February 23). His claim that John McDonnell couldn't get enough nominations to stand for Labour leader is wrong. John already has the backing of around 40 Labour MPs, three unions and many Labour party and trade union members.

The latest ICM poll shows Brown trailing Cameron by 13 points, meaning he would make Labour less popular than it is under Blair. No wonder many Labour MPs are getting jittery about risking losing their seats under a Brown premiership. As for David Miliband, he is unelectable for the same reasons as Blair and Brown - all three support policies, like PFI and the Iraq war, which result in voters paying more taxes for cut services. Miliband, like Blair or Brown, would be an anchor dragging Labour down to electoral defeat.

McDonnell is the one candidate with a voting record which shows sound judgment and integrity - and popular policies that could revive Labour's popularity.Duncan McFarlane Carluke, South Lanarkshire

It is a shame that Michael Meacher did not declare his intention to seek MPs' nominations for the Labour leadership contest earlier, as you might have put his record and present thinking to the test in your questioning of leadership and deputy leadership candidates (February 21). He would not have emerged with an untarnished history on issues such as Iraq or tuition fees, unlike John McDonnell, whose campaign has already won support across the Labour and union movement, as well as re-energising a substantial layer of party members and young people to whom New Labour represents little more than Thatcherism with an ingratiating grin. Such hubris may land Michael a seat in a Brown cabinet, but members intent on participating in a genuine debate between candidates from differing traditions may perceive it differently. Mike CowleyEdinburgh North and Leith Labour party

Michael Meacher says it is urgent "to reverse the growing rich-poor divide". Will this involve action against people who own several homes, as he does? Dave TaylorPurbrook, Hampshire

Tony Benn (Letters, February 24), having done his best to destroy Labour as a viable party of government, is perhaps not best placed to suggest how we might "defeat the renewed Tory challenge". A good start in defeating that challenge would be for Labour party and trade union members to demonstrate their sanity to the wider public by rejecting the eccentric candidacies of both John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. My vote will go to a candidate committed to the retention of Trident, reform of public services, a new generation of nuclear power stations, and the continuation of a foreign policy with an ethical dimension. Jamie MilneChair, Epsom & Ewell Labour party

A leadership contest would play into Cameron's hands, for it would show Labour frightened and divided whether Brown won or lost. If Cameron sees off Brown before the general election, it might not play like Thatcher and John Major. Would you bank on Reid, Straw, Johnson or even Miliband pulling off a victory? And if non-Brown lost the election, who would then save the party?George RehinLewes, East Sussex

Hazel Blears is standing for the deputy leadership "with a warning that members feel left out and disengaged" (Report, February 23). Yet she says this "does not mean we should change course or distance ourselves from our own successes", while continuing to defend denying Labour party members the chance to vote on whether Trident should be replaced. On the same day you report that the UK is in talks with the US over hosting part of its missile interceptor system in Britain - yet another decision over which Labour members will have no say. It is hardly surprising that tens of thousands of members have deserted Labour. The amazing thing is that there are still some left who can be bothered to vote for the plethora of candidates all saying the same things.Declan O'NeillOldham, Greater Manchester